I hadn’t heard from my stepdaughter, Hyacinth, in a long time. So when she invited me to dinner, I thought maybe it was a chance to reconnect. But I never expected the surprise she had planned for me.
My name is Rufus, and I’m 50 years old. My life is simple—I work a regular office job, live in a modest home, and spend my evenings watching TV or reading. The one thing I never figured out was my relationship with Hyacinth.
We were never close. When I married her mother, Lilith, she was a teenager and always kept her distance. Over time, I stopped trying too. But when she suddenly called and asked me to dinner, I was caught off guard.
I arrived at the restaurant, and it was fancier than I expected. Hyacinth looked different. She smiled but seemed tense, like she was forcing it.
She started ordering right away, choosing the most expensive dishes. It felt odd, but I went along with it. She was distracted, checking her phone, barely making conversation. Something was off.
I tried to talk. “It’s been a while. I’ve missed catching up.”
“Yeah,” she said, not looking up. “Been busy.”
The whole dinner felt strange. And when the bill arrived, she excused herself to the restroom. Minutes passed, but she didn’t return.
I sighed, paid the large bill, and felt disappointed. Had she only invited me for a free meal?
But just as I stood to leave, she appeared—with a cake and balloons.
“You’re going to be a granddad!” she announced, grinning.
For a moment, I froze. Granddad? It took me a second to process.
She laughed. “I wanted to surprise you! The waiter helped me plan everything.”
I felt a warmth inside me. For the first time, I felt truly included in her life.
She hesitated. “I know we’ve had our differences. But I want you in my life. And in the baby’s.”
Tears welled in my eyes. I hugged her, and she hugged me back.
Walking out together, I asked, “When’s the big day?”
“Six months,” she smiled. “Plenty of time to prepare, Grandpa.”